Dynamic Forms in ES processes

Question

I have a few questions about how best to handle a few things in a form I am working on in Designer ES. I am hoping to use out-of-the-box services for as much of this as possible.
* I have a dropdown (DropDown1) which will be populated from a database. Now, the content of my next dropdown (DropDown2) is dependant on the choice the user chooses for DropDown1. The options for DropDown2 are also in a database. Ideally, I'd like to have the data for DropDown1 prepopulated wen the user first opens the form. But what is the best way to populate DropDown2 after DropDown1 has been chosen? Do I preload all of the options when the form is rendered and just bring up the ones I need on a change event on DropDown1? Or can I query ES when I need the info?
* In another part of the form, I have a dropdown for a list of applications (the list is in a database). For each application, I have a different set of data I need to request from the user (i.e for Application A, I need to know installation location and serial number, for Application B, I need to know serial number, a date needed and a username, etc). So I'd need a customized subform for each applciation. Is there a way to say, bring in a form fragment from the Resources in ES and insert it into my subform on the fly when on a change event on the DropDown?
Thanks in advance!
Templeton

Answer 1

You can dynamically compose a form at runtime via as3.
Here is a quick example.
HTH.
ps: afaik there is no component which automatically builds a form from xml.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<mx:Application xmlns:mx="http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml" layout="absolute" initialize="init()">
<mx:Script>
<![CDATA[
     import mx.controls.TextInput;
     import mx.containers.FormItem;
     private function init():void {
          var formItem:FormItem = new FormItem();
          formItem.label = "FormItem1";
          var textInput:TextInput = new  TextInput();
          formItem.addChild(textInput);
          myForm.addChild(formItem);
]]>
</mx:Script>
     <mx:Form id="myForm">
          <mx:FormHeading label="My Form"/>
     </mx:Form>
</mx:Application>